Folding leg for trunks.



R. G. BAIN.

FOLDING LEG FOR TRUNKS APPLIGATION HLED FEB. 13, 1909.

940,42 1 Patented Nov. 16; 1909.

fi l 4. 2

WZZWJQ- nivirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. BAIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FQLIDING LEG FOR TRUNKS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. BAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain Folding Legs for Trunks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding legs for trunks, its object being to provide means for supporting the trunk at a. distance from the floor, so that it is made more accessible, and when a trunk having a flat top is used it is made available for use as a table; also to so arrange and construct such supporting means that the same may be folded and be held in that position against all probability of accidental unfolding while in transit, and to provide certain other new and useful features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trunk embodying my invention in its preferred form, Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a corner of the trunk in elevation and a por tion of a supporting leg and its hinge connection with the trunk in section, Fig. 3 is a detail elevation, and Fig. 1 is a section taken on line Ii-23 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring now to the drawings 1 indicates the trunk and 2 my improved folding legs hinged thereto adjacent the lower corners thereof; The legs 2 when folded are longitudinally disposed adjacent the bottom of the trunk as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and when in such position the hinges 3 serve as short legs for supporting the trunk and as a protection to the legs 2 in folded position. The hinge 3 comprises a spring 4 adapted to hold the leg 2 in either the folded or open position by contacting with the rectangular portion 5 formed in said leg by slotting the enlarged portion 6 of the same. The spring 4: is suitably seated in the body of the hinge 3 as shown in Fig. 2, and suflicient clearance for the deflection of said spring is provided. The hinges 3 may be secured to the trunk in any suitable manner, but are preferably formed integral with the corner pieces 7 of the trunk which are riveted in position in the usual manner.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. February 13, 1909.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

Serial No. 477,766.

The rectangular portion 5 of a leg 2 is adapted to seat snugly in a recessed portion 8 formed in the body of the hinge 3, and the portion 9 of the slotted portion of the leg 2 is adapted to seat in a recessed portion 10 also formed in the body of the hinge 3 at its lower extremity. It will be seen that the portions 5 and 9 are adapted to seat simultaneously and are held in such position by the spring 4: and. the weight of the trunk, which said portions are adapted to support. This construction is especially strong and the legs are held firmly in position because of the leverage gained by the distance be tween the recessed portions 8 and 10. But to add rigidity to the legs 2 and especially to overcome lateral strains, lugs 13 having lips 14 are provided integral with the body of the hinge 3 which extend therefrom adjacent its lower extremity, said lugs serving as stops for said legs.

In order to fold the legs 2 of the trunk, the same may be tipped over on a side and the legs be drawn outwardly against the resistance of the spring 1 as indicated by dotted lines 11 in Fig. 3. The legs 2 may then be folded into the position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. An apertured portion 12 is provided on each side of the body of the hinge 3 in order to provide clearance for the turning of the rectangular portion 5.

While I have shown what I deem to be the preferable form of my folding legs for trunks, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as there might be many changes made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. And while I have designed my invention for a particular use, it may be used for any other purpose for which it is adapted.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a trunk and legs hinged thereto, each leg having an enlarged rectangular portion at its upper extremity, said portion being provided with a slot, a hinge member having a portion extending through said slot, a spring provided in said hinge member and adapted to engage the upper inner edge of said slot for normally holding said leg in either vertical or folded position, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, a leg hinge formed integral with the corner piece of a trunk, two recessed portions formed in the body of said hinge in vertical alinement, two portions formed in a leg adapted to seat in said recessed portions respectively and a leaf spring seated in the body of said hinge for normally maintaining said two portions seated in said recessed portions, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In a device of the class described, a trunk and folding legs therefor, each leg comprising an enlarged slotted portion at its upper extremity, a hinge body portion i secured to the trunk adjacent each corner thereof, a recessed portion at the lower ex- ROBERT C. BAIN.

lVitnesses JOSHUA R. H. Por'rs, JANET E. HOGAN. 

